How many people today grab a takeaway coffee cup from the local cafe to drink on the go? We don’t know, but the number must be enormous.. Most every one of the above have a plastic top that will last 100s of years. Some cafes still use plastic cups that last a similar time. Is 10 minutes of coffee worth 100s of years of trash?
These items can be seen littering our gutters and on our streets all over the place. If they were all cardboard, they would still be littered, but they would, at least, be gone in a short time.
They do not need to be made of plastic.
On the way home from the gym last week, a distance of about 1 km (1/2 mile), I counted the items of plastic litter on the curb as I walked. In that short distance I counted 63 pieces of plastic litter. Plastic drink bottles, bottle tops, candy wrappers, plastic film, polystyrene fragments etc. That seemed to be a lot to me. I guess it is a generational thing. Our parents would have been horrified to see that amount, whereas it seems to go unnoticed by our youth of today. In another 20 years how many pieces will there be on this stretch, -- 200? What will today’s youth think of that new amount then when they are older? Will their children be so readily accepting of a higher amount of litter? August 2018 - Plastic Waste Solutions
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Coles resumes charging for plastic bags – Australia
Posted on August 31, 2018 by DrRossH in Plastic Limiting RegulationsCOLES has resumed charging customers for its 15-cent reusable bags from today. Source: Coles resumes charging for plastic bags Coles then extended its bag giveaway past Woolworths before backflipping entirely on the bag ban by announcing it would give the...
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Selectman, business leader push back against teen’s balloon ban proposal – USA
Posted on August 31, 2018 by DrRossH in Balloons“My opinions on this are very strong. ... I have a real problem with banning individual items for sale,” a local businessman said.. Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries from the Bangor Daily News. Source: Selectman, business...
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Is the party over for balloons? Impact on environment raises possibility of a ban
Posted on August 23, 2018 by DrRossH in GeneralHelium-filled latex balloons have drawn increased attention and some calls for a ban because of their potential as an environmental hazard. Source: Is the party over for balloons? Impact on environment raises possibility of a ban Balloon releases are a...
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Why SWFL communities might ban balloons – USA
Posted on August 21, 2018 by DrRossH in BalloonsFirst it was plastic straws and now its balloons. Source: Why SWFL communities might ban balloons "A lot of the young animals who don’t really know what prey is supposed to look like will ingest balloons," said C.R.OW. Medical and...
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Trash rivers: these 10 rivers are responsible for most plastic that flows out to the seas
Posted on August 19, 2018 by DrRossH in Plastic & WildlifeJust ten rivers are responsible for up to 95% of all river-borne plastic trash that ends up in the sea. Silver lining: cleaning them up would have a huge positive impact. Source: Trash rivers: these 10 rivers are responsible...
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Coles ‘bagflip’ fiasco highlights the need for legislation – Australia
Posted on August 12, 2018 by DrRossH in Plastic Limiting RegulationsAffordability is a large concern for many consumers and will outrank environmental standards in more instances than not. Source: Coles 'bagflip' fiasco highlights the need for legislation Most importantly, self-regulation in the private sector relies on there being alternative options for...
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Meet the researchers designing the death of plastic – USA
Posted on August 12, 2018 by DrRossH in Plastic Waste News'It was a phenomenal feeling,' said the scientist who made plastic simply disappear. Source: Meet the researchers designing the death of plastic Having unzipping polymers and fully recyclable products is a step forward, but consumers still have to do their part...
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Study: Plastics a source of minuscule, but ‘climate-relevant,’ methane – USA
Posted on August 10, 2018 by DrRossH in Plastic Waste NewsPlastics News // // // <img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=111824592743119&ev=PageView&noscript=1" /> // // // =e/100?0:100),a=++,this.set(f,a.join(":")),!c}return!0}; this.go=function(){if(this.check()){var a=document.createElement("script");a.type="text/javascript";a.src=g+ "&t=" + (new Date()).getTime();document.body&&document.body.appendChild(a)}}; this.start=function(){var a=this;window.addEventListener?window.addEventListener("load",function(){a.go()},!1):window.attachEvent&&window.attachEvent("onload",function(){a.go()})}}; try{(new g(100,"r","QSI_S_ZN_8odAnAtNHrUW4Bf","https://zn8odanatnhruw4bf-crain.siteintercept.qualtrics.com/WRSiteInterceptEngine/?Q_ZID=ZN_8odAnAtNHrUW4Bf&Q_LOC="+encodeURIComponent(window.location.href))).start()}catch(i){}})(); // ]]> Almost imperceptibly, plastics seem to emit...
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The Summer of Plastic-Straw Bans: How We Got There – USA
Posted on August 9, 2018 by DrRossH in Plastic StrawsThe story of how plastic straws went from ubiquitous to utensil non grata is one of psychology, a well-timed turtle and the power of social media. There has also been minimal industry pushback. Source: The Summer of Plastic-Straw Bans:...
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Dodger Outage Highlights Local Push to Ban Mylar Balloons – USA
Posted on August 6, 2018 by DrRossH in GeneralSource: Dodger Outage Highlights Local Push to Ban Mylar Balloons – Los Feliz Ledger How can this be?: Previous attempts at Mylar balloon legislation have been unsuccessful, the SLNC noted in a letter to the Los Angeles City Council and...
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